Continental conference talks about defence

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TOP brass from European navies descended on Portsmouth Naval Base for a key conference debating the continent’s defence issues.

Twelve representatives from Europe’s Channel Command – known as CHANCOM – attended their annual forum which is hosted by a different partner nation each year.

The group comprises five nations – the UK, France, Germany, Belgium and Netherlands. Senior naval staff from Spain, Italy and Portugal also attended.

Naval base commander, Commodore Jeremy Rigby, said: ‘We were delighted to host such a high-profile event. With so many heads of European navies present it was an excellent opportunity to promote the importance and growth of the base and Portsmouth as a whole.’